Gardening is said to be a highly prestigious profession in the UK, where gardening culture thrives. One popular event in the country is the Chelsea Flower Show, organized by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Attending tens of thousands of people every year, the show gardens, where professional gardeners from around the world gather, are the highlight of this huge event. Rich Harry and Rich David, two young brothers, won the highest award, Gold, at the 2015 edition of this historic and prestigious garden show, which was recently made into a film. Their landscape design duo, Rich Landscapes, specializes in a style that blends nature and modernity, and when necessary, they also design mobile sheds, like the one that stole the show's attention the most.



Also in 2015, they drew attention for their work on the gardens that were open to the public as part of the special CHANEL exhibition "Mademoiselle Prive," held at the Saatchi Gallery, a contemporary art museum in London. They expressed the spirit of CHANEL in three "garden rooms," welcoming visitors to the exhibition.

The Ricci brothers are also expanding their range of activities, including having a regular program on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). We spoke to them about their landscape design, which sets them apart from traditional British gardens.

--You two work together, but which one is the older brother?

Harry: Harry is my older brother. He's 28 now.

David: I'm 25 now.

David: I only moved to London a year ago. I started getting more clients in London, so I started traveling from Wales more often.

Harry: To be honest, there are times when I miss the slow life back home. London is a busy city, and I actually work more there than I did in Wales. When I think about our origins, it really lies in the nature of that land. Our attitude of valuing nature in its natural state, and the influence it has had on us is immeasurable. But I thought it was time to get out there and grow as a designer.



--This past year has been a truly monumental year for you.

Harry: It's hard to believe it's only been a year! So many things have happened, and I've been blessed with some amazing opportunities that wouldn't have come my way if I had stayed in Wales. I feel like I made the right decision to base my business in London.

--One of the big projects you've worked on in that time is the Chanel exhibition at Saatchi Gallery last year. Can you tell me about it?

David: It was the best experience I've ever had working on a project.

Harry: It was also my first project in London.

--That must have been a lot of pressure.

Harry: (laughs) Yes, I was on edge from start to finish. It's not often that you get the opportunity to create a garden for Chanel. Not only did I feel the need to create something beautiful worthy of such a historic, high-end brand, but I also didn't have much time to work on it due to other circumstances.

--How did you develop the idea for the work itself? I felt that the match between a fashion brand with a perfect worldview and Rich Landscapes' gardening style that makes use of nature was unique.

David: First of all, I did some research on Chanel before starting work on the project. Coco Chanel's biggest theme was the liberation of women and their fashion. The Saatchi Gallery, where the exhibition was held, is located in the heart of the city, but we wanted visitors from this busy location to feel a sense of nature by walking through the garden, and to experience the same sense of freedom that Coco Chanel expressed through its beauty. Also, tweed is the brand's signature material. It's a fabric that originated on the rivers of Scotland and evokes nature.

Harry: When I confronted Coco Chanel as a person, three backgrounds emerged. The first was the liberty that Chanel advocated. The second was her romance with her elegant lover, Boy Capel. The third was the strength of her astrological sign, Leo. We projected these different elements into a "garden room" made up of three parts. So, rather than visual fashion or style, we took inspiration from these essential aspects and reflected them in our design.



--Last year was also the year you won the gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show.

David: We were given the theme of incorporating a red and white wine motif somewhere, in reference to our sponsor, Cloudy Bay. But other than that, we were given free rein to create. We built a mobile shed in the garden. Normally, clients wouldn't be very interested if you said you wanted to make a mobile shed (laughs). The Chelsea Flower Show was also a chance for us to try out things we'd always wanted to do.

Harry: I think it's a great opportunity to present the kind of design we propose and how it can actually be turned into a garden. We didn't participate this year, but we've exhibited every year for the past three years.

--When creating a project like this, are there any divisions of work between you two?

David: We always brainstorm together to develop the concept. Harry then sketches and creates visuals, controlling the concept. I handle the details, like the master plan.

Harry: David's role is to summarize the plan and refine it. Sketching is easy, but I think the most important thing is to visualize it in a detailed and accurate master plan.

David: Although we have different roles, we can both do anything. At the same time, I think that's a strength. With more people, communication can sometimes be lacking. We may need more help in the near future, but we intend to continue with a small, energetic team as much as possible.



--What inspires your creations?

Harry: I'm not really influenced by a particular garden or style. Rather, I find inspiration from all kinds of things in the world and connect them together to create a story. Or I'll go back to nature and reconsider how it works.

David: Ideas are everywhere, and sometimes I get inspiration from the streets. I also think it's important to have a young, healthy mind. I like to spend my days outdoors, traveling, and skateboarding on my days off. These everyday aspects of our lives can be said to define our individuality, so to speak.

Harry: We're not particularly focused on the title of garden designer; we'd love to design anything if the opportunity arose. In fact, a garden isn't just about plants; it also needs benches to sit on and lighting. We create an environment by considering all of these things holistically.

--I see. So, what projects are you working on at the moment?

David: There are a few... First, we're designing a spa retreat in Hampshire, an outdoor space with a pool and spa. Then we're designing the roof terrace and courtyard for Massimo Dutti's shop in Barcelona. We're also designing the garden for a private residence in Sweden. It's a gorgeous house.

Harry: We're also building a California-style garden for a house on the Welsh coast. The base is a minimalist design using concrete, but the plants are natural and authentic. I like the contrast between modern and natural.

--In addition to the project, you also have a TV show on the BBC.

David: That's right. It's a garden design show called "Garden Rescue." The concept is simple. We work with the other presenter, gardener Charlie Dimmock, to revive the gardens of ordinary families who submit designs to the show. We create modern designs, and she creates classic, traditional designs, and each time the client chooses one of the two.

Harry: Speaking of which, the theme of the last episode was Japanese gardens. The couple who appeared on the show are fans of Japanese gardens, and they chose our design. We beautifully redesigned the original pond and built a tea house next to it, creating a calming, Zen-like atmosphere.

David: Series 1 has just finished, and series 2 will begin next year. There are planned to be 25 episodes, which means we have to design 25 gardens! That's a lot, isn't it? (laughs) My reason for appearing on this show is to promote gardening culture. I am involved in producing the show with the hope that people will get to know us through TV and that more people, especially young people, will become interested in gardening.

【Website】
http://www.richlandscapes.net/

【Instagram】
http://instagram.com/therichbrothers


Visit vintage shops in East London! Walk down the exotic Brick Lane in [Our Favorite LONDON vol.1]

Visit vintage shops in East London! Check out the famous shops frequented by professionals [Our Favorite LONDON vol.2]

London's delicious sweets scene. Lily Jones, the creator of bespoke cakes [Our Favorite Londo vol.4]